Abstract
Sulfated and non-sulfated ZrO2–SiO2 mixed oxide xerogel and aerogel samples having varied Zr/Si molar ratio were evaluated as solid acid catalysts for the isomerization of α-pinene and dehydration of 4-methyl-2-pentanol. Sulfation resulted into enhancement in the catalytic activity of both xerogel and aerogel samples towards the studied reactions. For example, sulfated catalysts showed 86–98% conversion of α-pinene and 8–35% conversion of 4-methyl-2-pentanol. The selectivity data for camphene and limonene indicated the requirement of moderate acidity. The correlation with cyclohexanol dehydration showed that isomerization of α-pinene is a Bronsted acid catalyzed reaction. The relationship of 4-methyl-2-pentanol conversion with acid site density and sulfur per unit area was found to be linear.
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